PERU – Mendota’s Junior League Softball All-Stars found out the hard way that the game’s not over until the final out is recorded.

Mendota built up an 11-run lead through four innings only to see it evaporate over the final three frames in a stunning 14-13 loss to Archer Manor of Chicago in the opening round of the Junior League Softball State Tournament on July 14 at Veterans Park in Peru.

Mendota struck quickly with four runs in the bottom of the first. Macy Pizano-Olson got things started with a walk, followed by a single off the bat of Katie Jenner. On the play, Archer Manor’s left fielder committed an error that allowed Pizano-Olson to score. Zoe Finley drilled a single to plate Jenner to make it 2-0. Lilly Loomis reached on a fielder’s choice, then Eve McDowell was safe on an error that allowed two more runs to score.

The Mendota all-stars added a run in the second on a Pizano-Olson RBI single to score Olivia Eddy, who walked to start the inning.

Mendota tallied a pair of runs in the third after the first two batters were retired. Gracie Zinke walked to keep the inning alive and Lauren Martin followed with an inside-the-park home run on a ball swatted over the center fielder’s head.

Archer Manor finally got on the board in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs, but Mendota answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning to take a commanding 13-2 lead. Jenner opened with a walk, then Finley had an RBI double, Loomis, Eddy and Martin drove in runs with singles, and Pizano-Olson capped off the scoring with a two-run double.

That proved to be the final scoring inning for Mendota, while Archer Manor began to chip away at the 11-run deficit in the top of the fifth. An inside-the-park homer got things started and back-to-back RBI doubles resulted in two more runs.

Archer Manor made it 13-8 with a three-run sixth to set the stage for an unbelievable six-run top of the seventh. Archer Manor had four singles in the inning, but two walks and two errors contributed to the comeback.

Martin led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single and she promptly stole second. But a strikeout, pop out and ground out left her stranded at second.

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The Mendota all-stars played two more games on July 14, beating Twin Rivers, 23-13, and losing to Evergreen Park, 18-1, to be eliminated from the tournament.

Against Twin Rivers, the Mendota all-stars scored in every inning en route to the victory. Mendota put three runs on the board in each of the first two innings, followed by a five-run third inning, a four-run fourth, a six-run fifth and a two-run sixth to win by the 10-run rule.

Two players had three hits apiece. Finley collected a single, double and triple, while Martin had two doubles and a single. Two-hit games went to Pizano-Olson (two singles, three walks), Jenner (single, double), Loomis (two singles) and Taylor Kelly (two singles). McDowell also doubled in the contest.

Against Evergreen Park, the game was halted after three innings because of the 10-run rule. Martin had a pair of singles for Mendota and scored its only run. Loomis and McDowell also singled for the all-stars.